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Zion National Park is Utah's oldest national park and one of the most popular in the country. It is internationally famous for being utterly stunning - especially Zion Canyon - the centerpiece of the park. The park is known for its stunning land formations, wildlife, and stunning array of colors. Zion is also a great place for canyoneering - the park has countless hidden and inaccessible canyons.
Zion is best explored with a tour, and there are many types of tours to choose from. These tours really open up the park's four life zones, wildlife, canyons, mountains, canyons, natural arches, pre-historic history, and more. Zion is definitely worth visiting, and one should plan ahead to visit at the best time and plan what to do there.
Zion National Park Helicopter Tours
Zion Helicopters is a tour company offering many Helicopter tour options for a range of budgets. These range from $99 to $535. One example of their tours is the 55-mile Zion Canaan Cliffs Tour which combines the helicopter tour with landing on a Zion butte.
- Duration: 1 Hour (Of Which 30 Minutes are Flight Time)
- See: Canaan Mountain Wilderness Area, including West Zion, Kolob Canyons & Smith Mesa
- Includes: Landing On A Butte and Walk Around
- Picnic: Enjoy A Picnic With 360-degree views
Price:
- Non-Private Tour: $324 (Per Person)
- Private Flight: $1,275 (2-3 Passengers)
- Private Flight: $1,925 (4-6 Passengers)
There is also the option to have a private tour instead of a group tour.
4x4 & Jeep Tours Of Zion National Park
Another way to explore Zion is with an off-roading tour. There are also plenty of options for off-roading tours offering different durations, different destinations, and different times (like sunset tours). One East Zion Adventures tour - the Brushy Cove & Elevator Road Jeep Tour - is one example of a typical jeep tour.
The tour lasts for 1.5 hours and for all ages two years old and over. On tour, ascend over 1500 feet and be greeted with breathtaking views of East Zion. They use their customized Jeep Wrangler with open sides - these are about to accommodate up to 9 people.
- Duration: 1.5 Hours
Price:
- Adult: $99.00
- Youth: $89.00 (Aged 12 to 17)
One will get views of West Temple, Checkerboard Mesa, the Narrows, and other prominent Zion landmarks. Keep one's eyes open for wild turkeys, mule deer, elk, or occasionally even mountain lions and black bears.
Horseback Riding Hours In Zion
Horseback riding is one of the great ways to really get the feel of the park and enjoy it in a more intimate way. There are plenty of horseback riding tours in the park. One example of a tour is the White Sands Sunset Horseback Ride.
- Duration: 1.5 Hours
- Age: Restricted To Those 12 And Over
- Weight Limit: 220 lbs
- Cost: $99.00
This is a very romantic and fun way to explore the park. Enjoy amazing red rock views and ride along the base of Red Hollow and White Mountain.
The tour is for all riders - including beginners with no horse riding experience. The tour includes a brief riding lesson for inexperienced riders.
Hiking Tours Of Zion (& Abandoned Mines)
In addition to exciting helicopter, ATV, and horseback riding tours, there are always good old-fashioned hiking tours. There are plenty of hiking tours in the park (some of which combine it with a UTV ride or with camping overnight).
One hike that goes to a more unusual attraction in Zion is the Abandoned Mine Hike. Like many places in America, there was once a mining operation here, but today it is inhabited by bats and ghosts. The tour is an opportunity to explore the history of the mine.
- Duration: 2 Hours
- Terrain: Mild/Rugged
- Ages: No Restrictions
The tour leaves Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort and travels in an off-road vehicle to the mine. Along the way, enjoy breathtaking views of Zion National Park with eye-watering views of Narrows and the West Temple.
The mile is around a quarter-mile hike from the trailhead (that goes past antique mine equipment).
These are just a few of the many tours offered in Zion. The Zion National Park website offers a list of local companies offering different tours.